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FISHING4SCHOOLS
| fishing for schools |
There has been increasing amount of interest from schools and youth groups looking in to alternative education. Fishing is seen as away to communicate with more difficult pupils. So gaining a new interest in education either by offering it as and incentive to pupils, as a reward for attending school more often. Or just to give a more direct approach to subjects such as maths, English and the sciences. Whilst the pupils are learning these subjects, they are also improving on their day to day education.
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| WHY IS FISHING GOOD FOR PUPILS |
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Listed below are just the main points of were a youngster can improve there education by taking part in one of our educational based fishing programmes.
Youngsters gain confidence in themselves when they can see actual results, (catching a fish).
Communication skills whilst finding out the best ways to catch fish, they will be communicating with each other discussing what tactics to use and how to get the best out of their fishing trips.
Mathematics, this can be seen as data handling, and basic counting skills.
English, It is expected that all pupils keep a diary/log of their fishing trips to allow them to evaluate their performance, and be able to adapt to the fishing conditions around themselves. It is also expected that pupils of the angling school will try to improve their angling skills by reading books, plus enhancing their reading skills.
Science and geography, most of the activities involved in fishing can be classed as science. Even before we start to fish, we have to buy our bait. So we start to think about the food chain, while trying to catch fish they will undergo basic science projects, (mixing and testing baits). How weather conditions effect what we hope to catch. Once at the lake we have to map it out (not only what we can see, but most important is the lake bed) and think about were best to fish and why,
Also in this category we have pollution: And the threat of pollution upon our environment.
Rules and regulations, There are lots of rules and regulations that have to be followed whilst fishing. From the licences we need, to what we can and can not do whilst out fishing.
How their behaviour, will affect their results, Anglers code of conduct, the countryside code and Water safety.
Lifetime skills, What we offer your pupils is not just a quick fix for them. But a whole range of skills that will stay with them for a life time. Which it is hoped will lead them into a pass time that will occupy them in their spare time. ( and keeping them out of trouble in the future). Also giving them more self confidence in what they can achieve, and leading them back into normal learning practices by seeing their own achievements through alternative education.
These fishing sessions have been used by teachers, youth workers and learning mentors, to talk to the pupils on a level plane. Whilst the youths are fishing they become relaxed and easier to talk to, which allows you to get to the roots of their behavioural problems.
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| FISHING IS TOTALLY INCLUSIVE |
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Fishing has no boundries. There is no one in the country, that can not take up fishing. All that we need to do is adapt the fishing tackle that we use to match the needs of those, who want to try fishing. Fishing can be very rewarding for pupils with learning difficulties, as it gives almost immediate results. With more and more youngsters having behavioral problems fishing is seen as a theraputic way of learning (often not even noticing that they are learning). We can incorporate most curriculam subjects in to fishing in one way or another.
We do not offer just fishing, but away of learning life skills, such as decision making, basic maths, english and biology.
Most of all a passtime that may keep them off the streets and out of trouble.
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| A typical school group learning to fish at woods farm fishery in Solihull |
A school can book between 2 and 10 pupils at anyone time for practical fishing session at local fisheries. This particular group are fishing on the Pine pool at Woods farm fishery in Solihull.
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| LET YOUR PUPILS GAIN A OCN CERTIFICATE |
With the emphasis heading towards more vocational studies, the National Federation of Anglers has led the way. By designing a course called Introduction to fishing and the environment. The course involves a minimum 18 hours of classroom studies and practical sessions to demonstrate the pupils understanding of the course content.
The course contents include:-
Water safety
The countryside code
Water cycle & photosynthesis
Environment and pond life
Safe handling of fish
Fish features and internal organs
Fish identification
Setting up fishing tackle for a variety of situations
Knots
Rods and reels
Hooks & how to determine size and use
Floats & weights
Telescopic pole fishing
Plumbing the depth
On completion of this course there is a short written examination and a practical test. Leading to a National Open Collage Network qualification.
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| THE PUPILS WILL LEARN ABOUT |
BIOLOGY- Common plants and animals found close to the waterside, Fish anatomy, photosynthesis, the food chain, pond live, fish identification, feeding habits and fish handling.
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| WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER YOUR SCHOOL |
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We run school taster sessions which range from 2 to 4 hours. This is a way for you can access, what we offer you before commiting to full courses.
Basic beginners practical courses. These are run at a local fishery and last between 5 weeks and 1 term. During these courses, we will teach pupils the basics of fishing to the point that they will be able to go out fishing on their own.
OCN Introduction to angling and the environment. This course has been designed to meet with the governments white paper, every child matters. This is a 20 hour course involving 17 hours of classroom work. A 1 hour theory and 3 hour practical examination. Which involves the environment, food chains, flora and fauna and of course how to catch fish.
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GEOGRAPHY- Water cycle and the importance of water, weather patterns, wind direction and air pressure.
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NUMERACY- Measuring water depth, using weights to balance Floats, line strength and test curves of rods.
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LITRACY- Course work and compilation of evidence portfolio, word search and written assessment paper.
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| Classroom sessions also include practical sessions |
The classroom sessions are not all theory, we also include practical sessions including setting up fishing equipment, knot tying, fishing tackle choice, bait selection and preperation for fishing trips.
This photo shows a session on hook tying.
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| TESTIMONIALS |
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I wish to inform you of the great success we have had with our fishing course for our students this term. The instructor has been Ian Boden who has been magnificent throughout. He has demonstrated great empathy with our students and worked with great professionalism. He has taught our pupils many aspects of fishing and concerns regarding the environment in general.
We are a small educational establishment and cater for pupils who are unable to attend mainstream school because of physical or emotional difficulties. To be able to offer activities such as fishing is extremely valuable as our students are able to interact in situations outside their normal educational environment. Without exception, all our pupils have benefited from this experience; not only have they acquired the basic knowledge of how to fish but they have been able to experience the environment first hand. END
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| March 15th 2007 - West Midlands Community Centre Get Hooked. |
The West Midlands Region got their first NFA course up and running in Solihull working with the local Community Centre this month.
Kingshurst Youth and Community Centre, which is run by Solihull Council, is the first in the region to deliver the NFA’s Introduction to Angling and the Environment qualification. The course which is being delivered by the NFA’s Senior Regional Coach, for the West Midlands will enable children aged between 12 and 19 years of age get their first taste of angling.
Senior Coach, Ian Boden stated, “I have found the course incredibly easy to deliver and believe that the course is ideal for all angling coaches out there to get involved in schools and youth projects and deliver the course. Already they have had 6 trips to the local fishery and the community centre has found it a great way to get the kids a qualification at the end of an activity.”
Navelet Pink, Community Centre Manager commented:
“Young people have expressed an interest in going fishing in the local area and this qualification is an ideal opportunity for them to develop new skills by learning how to fish and also take their existing fishing ability to a new level. The course is ideal to give young people the opportunity to develop new skills and get recognised for doing it. With the course being accredited its great to give something back to young people who go fishing. The kids so far are really enjoying the course.”
One participant commented:
“I am ever so glad I came on the course, I have never caught so many fish.”
Navelet continued:
"Fishing always gives children a chance to achieve and provides an opportunity for all. It’s also a great method of peer tutoring, where the kids help each other progress and develop.”
What’s great to see from this project in particular is that the coach, Ian Boden isn’t just looking at introducing these kids into our sport, but also developing their interest into an after school activity and also a team competition. Projects like this are starting all over the country and will only help Angling achieve its goal of increasing participation in the sport and provide the anglers of the future.
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